Genetic diversity in serum albumin.

The significance of rare, recessive genes occurring at a frequency that could be maintained by recurrent mutation alone is poorly understood. This paper presents the results of a genetic study and certain biochemical observations on a slowly migrating electrophoretic species of albumin which was found in the family of a 7-year-old boy suffering from the nephrotic syndrome. The gene controlling this slowly migrating albumin is apparently rare; however, at least I2 families with this trait have been reported (Scheurlen, I955; Knedel, 1957, I958; Nennstiel and Becht, I957; Earle, Hutt, Schmid, and Gitlin, I959; Bennhold, Ott, and Scheurlen, I958; Franglen, Martin, Hargreaves, Smith, and Williams, I960; Wieme, I960; Miescher, I960; Adner and Redfors, I96I; Robbins, Hill, Marcus, and Carlquist, I963; Braend, Efremor, Fagerhol, and Hartmann, I965). These data suggest that the mutant allele is as efficient as the wild type allele.